Isradipine
[CA CHANNEL BLOCKER] May treat mania and ultra-rapid cycling bipolar.
Sexual-free
Pindolol
Speeds up antidepressants [3] when started with an SSRI (doesn’t augment later after starting SSRI). Augments in OCD/panic [3]
Buspirone-melatonin combo
Low doses of both treated depression in one trial.
Buspirone-melatonin combo Read More »
Vortioxetine
[$ Trintellix] Improves cognition. First-line for depression (lacks weight gain, sexual, fatigue SEs; lack of WS). Well studied in elderly.
Vilazodone
[Viibryd] Only benefit is lack of sexual side effects. Otherwise, not evidence in anxiety and not a stand-out antidepressant.
Bupropion
[Wellbutrin] First-line for depression (lacks weight-gain, sexual, cognitive, fatigue SEs; lack of WD). Safest antidepressant in bipolar. Treats nicotine but not as well as varenicline. Treats ADHD a little; RLS.
Lamotrigine
[Lamictal] Best tolerated mood stabilizer, treats and prevents bp-depression; does not treat mania so avoid as monotherapy in bipolar I.
Valproate
[Depakote] Good for bipolar mania/mixed and comorbid anxiety/alcoholism, but poorly tolerated and unsafe in pregnancy.
Pregabalin
[Lyrica] Approved outside US for generalized and social anxiety disorders [1]. Benzo WD, OCD [3], fibromylagia [1].
Gabapentin
[Neurontin] For social anxiety, stabilizing sleep in alcoholics, RLS, akathisia, non-specific anxiety. Better tolerated than pregabalin but less effective.